The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today received Ferid Murad, M.D., Ph.D., Nobel Prize Laureate in Medicine and Pharmacology.

At the cordial meeting, Dr. Murad welcomed the efforts of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia in developing and nurturing coexistence in a multicultural society, and pledged to use his reputation in the American society to lobby Macedonia to attain soon its strategic goals - EU and NATO membership. Dr. Murad was also interested in the health care system and education in the Republic of Macedonia, identifying areas of possible future cooperation.
 
President Ivanov congratulated Dr. Ferid Murad on his success, expressing hope that his research projects would continue to contribute towards enhancement of medicine and pharmacology worldwide. President Ivanov also extended his gratitude for the fact that Dr. Murad acknowledges his successes as Republic of Macedonia’s successes.

At the meeting, the interlocutors also referred to the Republic of Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic integrations, its role at the international level, as well as the problem over the name with the southern neighbor which hampers these processes.

The university professor and researcher, Dr. Ferid Murad, who descents from Gostivar, lives and works in Houston, Texas, has received numerous awards and recognitions for his researches in medicine. The greatest achievement in his scientific and research activity is the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology for the innovation related to the usage of nitric oxide as a signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system.